Powerful Portrayals of Human Struggle Two Strong Movies from New Zealand and Macedonia Land Squarely on the World Cinema Map

David Sterritt, writer of The Christian Science Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor

Lands far from Hollywood are sending films to American theaters,
and while the movies vary in quality -- as art, as entertainment,
and as statements on contemporary issues -- their presence allows a
refreshing change from commercial cinema as usual.

"Once Were Warriors" hails from New Zealand, but the problems it
tackles -- domestic violence, racial tension, youth gangs -- have
relevance around the world. The story focuses on Jake and Beth,
whose 18-year marriage has spawned a host of problems. Many are
caused by Jake's outbursts of drunken abuse. Others stem from
Beth's lingering doubts about whether she was right to marry him
over the objections of her parents, ethnic Maoris who wished their
daughter would stay away from decadent white culture.

The movie gains much of its strength from the hard-hitting style
of director Lee Tamahori, whose ability to construct scenes of
sustained emotional force is greater than one might expect from a
newcomer who developed his skills making TV commercials.

Even more impressive are the performances by Temuera Morrison, a
New Zealand soap-opera star of surprising depth, and Rena Owen,
whose explosive portrayal of Beth won the best-actress award at
last year's Montreal World Film Festival.

The movie itself won the best-film award at Montreal and has
been praised at other European and American festivals. It isn't a
success only on the movie-buff circuit, moreover: At box offices in
New Zealand, it has become the top-grossing picture of all time,
outdoing even "Jurassic Park" and other high-profile releases.

This doesn't mean it's a masterpiece; as I observed in a report
from Montreal, it's less artful than powerful, in the sense that a
locomotive or a sledgehammer is powerful. But its cry of anguish
over domestic abuse has clearly struck a resonant chord.

"Before the Rain" also comes to American screens with
film-festival credentials, having earned major prizes at the Venice
filmfest a few months ago. It's in the current Academy Awards race,
too, as Macedonia's entry for best foreign-language film. …

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